InfoSci®-Journals Annual Subscription Price for New Customers: As Low As US$ 4,950

This collection of over 175 e-journals offers unlimited access to highly-cited, forward-thinking content in full-text PDF and XML with no DRM. There are no platform or maintenance fees and a guarantee of no more than 5% increase annually.

Receive the complimentary e-books for the first, second, and third editions with the purchase of the Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, Fourth Edition e-book. Plus, take 20% off when purchasing directly through IGI Global's Online Bookstore.

Abstract

The prime aim of this study was to explore the determinants of entrepreneurial intention among undergraduate students at university level. This study employs attitude towards the behavior, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control as predictors and entrepreneurial intention as a dependent variable. The data were gathered through structured questionnaire. Respondents of this study were picked through convenience sampling technique. A total of 400 sets of questionnaire were distributed to the targeted respondents while 384 individuals were participated in the study. This study was a descriptive in nature. Most of the respondents showed their intention to be entrepreneur. This study will be a milestone for potential researchers. In future, researchers can conduct empirical studies on this topic.

Introduction

In a contemporary business environment organizations are facing very tough business competitions. Technological advancement, globalization, high volatility of customers demand and political crises has much influence on the business environment. To counter these challenges innovation, creativeness, entrepreneurship and flexibility need to be encouraged. Subsequently, to get competitive advantages businesses required entrepreneurial skills. These skills will be a survival tool for the enterprises to stay alive in the market.

Davidsson, (1995) argued that the entrepreneurship among the young generation had leads to the economic growth of government, innovation, employment and economic prosperity. Many studies such as (Nafukho and Helen, 2010; Dickson, et al., 2008) illustrated that entrepreneurship is the vital economic force to generate new jobs. Entrepreneur fully employs the chances that exist in their environment, and he has the skills to form the new business. Entrepreneurs represent as self-employed individuals. Entrepreneur is a person in which combine the various sources and lead them precious and worth whereas in the psychology field, they defined the entrepreneur as an individual that motivated by the needs to gain or achieve certain things, to test and to achieve objectives (Lee et. al. 2012).

Entrepreneurship plays active role in the development and growth of economy. Harper (1991) argued that in order to encourage the development of economic in less developed nations; the way is actively support and engaged in entrepreneurial activities. This is because the growth of entrepreneurship is critical and essential for economic progress in both developed nation and evolving country. Moreover, entrepreneurship has main function to accomplish the financial growth. Furthermore, the study of Kuratko (2005) had recognized the central role and tasks of an entrepreneur. He affirmed that the new chances for an individual to take part in the progress of socio-economic are the contribution of an entrepreneur that will lead to recover the economics.

Malaysia is a developing country and her economy is mainly based on small and medium enterprises. Therefore, entrepreneurship is essential for the development of national economy. In addition, Malaysia is an emerging nation. According to Malaysian Plan (2010-2015) government has aim to achieve the high income country in 2020. It encourage adolescence to engaged themselves in economics activities either public or private sector. However, according to the study of Badaruddin et al. (2012), the factors that influence the development of entrepreneurship included inadequate of the finances, talents or expertise, and technology as well. These factors had cause the poor growth in term of business and then lead to the economics issues in Malaysia (Badaruddin et. al., 2012).

Many studies had carried out to increase the understanding on factors that effect on entrepreneurial intentions such as (Choo and Wong, 2006; Bird, 1988; and Lee et al., 2012). However, during literature review it was found that there is lack of studies on the determinants of entrepreneurial intentions among the undergraduate students in Malaysia. This is supported by Kobia and Sikalieh (2010) affirmed that research regarding entrepreneurship is still at initial stage and should be carried out. Therefore, this study is essential and vital.

Literature Review

The term of entrepreneurship was initially created by Cantillon in which it refers to self-employment. An entrepreneur represents as a director of the business in his standpoint (Dariani, 2004). Entrepreneurship is a process of guiding, organizing, supervising and undertaking the risks. In addition, the growth of economics is a function that consists of improvement and generation of new supplies and resources.